Means for producing smooth surfaces



March 26, 1940.

J. T. CAUTHEN MEANS FOR PRODUCING SMOOTH SURFACES Filed Jan. 3, 1938 Patented Ma. 26, 1940 I ATENT ;o F

"PRODUCING SMOOTH- SURFACES I 3 v uNlrsofsr-Ar Application,

This invention relates to improvements in means for producing smooth surfaces and has particular reference to airplane construction.

bodimentof my invention, theletters A, B, C, D,

, E, and Fdesignate a portion of six units which The prinoipal obj ect of this inventio-r iis to pro- .are joined together; andthe" numerals 5 and 6, 5

videa plurality of units which maybe associated in edge to edge relation and to seal the seams in: such a mannerthat a smooth outer surface will part of the frame of the vehicles My invention consists in bending up small metal units which have anoutsidesurface 1 and.

inject is to produce a deviceof'thisj character which is economical to. manufacture, a and. a devicewhich is capable of takingjvarious upturned flanges 8 aroundthe four edges thereof. In order to secure these flanges 8 together, I 10 employ,rivets 9,,whi'ch in turnengage angles H," 7

forms to provide for various contours.

secured to the frame of the vehicle. Reenforc- I "ing strips, 52 are usedto strengthen the joint where required. In some instances lprefer to Other objects and advantages will b during the course of the following. description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part,

bend angle members is, fromthe' frame of the 1:5

"vehicle, as shown. in Fig. 41.; The space between of this specification andinwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, I

the unitsis filled with" plastic material t, which plastic material permits a'certain give between the units but'may be polished on its outer sur'--. face and in the 'same planeas the outer sur- 20 ary View, showing the rear. eral'units as thesaz ne. will join Fig. 1 is a'ifragment surface of sev face I of the units. cross sectional View taken "on the line 22' of Fig. 1 and on an enlarged scale;.

3 It willthusbe seen that I have produced. a sevice which will accomplish all the objects above set forth. I r

It is to be understood. that the form of my ,25

finvention herewith shown and; described is to be'-' Fig. 3 isa more detailed view of means for attaching several units together, such. asthe wing structure of an airplane; i 7

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed View, showing taken as a preferred example of thesame. and

that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts'may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of, 30.

the manner in which the units may be attached -to the framework; a Y

5 is a cross sec tional view taken bathe line 5 5 of Fig. 4-. I

I the invention or'the scope of the subjoined claim.

struction all surfaces which are conditiona; such as uld be as smooth as and resultant rly true' of the i In airplane con exposed to the'varied air ywind, fog; and the like, sho

possible to prevent undue friction waste in power. Thisis particula body and wings of an airplan Applicant has, t

7 ing strips arranged alongs'i vised means for se-- vHaving thusdescribed my invention, I claim:

A device of the class described including a. main frame, a plurality of units having flanged border sections-and capable of being riveted to-' 35 gether and to} said frame end to end, reinf0rc-' de said flanged sections, corherbracing'angle's riveted to said units f and to the mainframe, and a plastic filler posi- .tionedibetween .said' flanged border. sections to 4,0 a1low of expansion and contraction therebetween if andto-provide a flush outer finished surface.

curing smooth-units together, eachof which units has a smooth surface, which units may in turn be connected to reenforcing frame members of the dthe joint betwenthef units filled with a plastic composition which "may. be

ed off so as to give aperfe'ctly 5 joint between the units;

[ JoHN T. CAU'I'HEN.

q I is 

